Day 20: "You're killing me man, when does the good fairy come in?"

I don't think Phillip Noyce's spy pic Salt is a bad movie, far from it, in fact; I just can't decide how much I like it.  The story revolves around star CIA operative Evelyn Salt.  When a Russian spy comes in to defect, he informs her that she is not the person she believes herself to be, then he tells her she is going to be the one to commit a high profile assassination.  At this point, all hell breaks loose, and we see just what kind of badass "Jane Bond" Evelyn Salt is.  The plot eventually dissolves into: is she this? Is she that? No, wait, she's this.  Crap, now it's the other way...dammit, story make up your mind!!!!  The action is well done and, at times, sufficiently over-the-top.  There were actually a couple of times when I caught myself saying, "That's it, she's effed."  Let's just say being a super-spy has some awesome perks int terms of escape methods.  My main complaint is that the story seems to be about 25 years late.  This would have been very well received during the Cold War.

Angelina Jolie plays Evelyn very naturally, distancing herself a bit from the lackluster films of recent memory.  She can still do convincing action scenes just as well as she ever has, and has actually improved on her more emotionally intimate performances.  One of Hollywood's most underrated actors, Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins:Wolverine, The Manchurian Candidate) does a wonderful job as Salt's CIA boss, Ted Winter.  He brings a great intensity and gravity to, what could easily have been, a throwaway role.  I love this guy, and can't remember a role he did not deliver in.

OK, so after writing this, I have to say Salt is a decent option and quite a bit of fun.  It falls into the same category as the Bourne films, it just doesn't take itself as seriously.  Not  a game-changer in the spy/action genre, but not a bust either.  7/10.

Tomorrow's movie: I haven't got a freaking clue...pot luck I guess.  I'll just close my eyes and let the fickle finger of fate decide.  Feelin' a bit lazy...  See you then, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!